2002 Hyundai Santa Fe from North America - Comments

I am writing this e-mail as a warning. About two years ago I bought a Hyundai Santa Fe. I bought it because it had, what I thought, was a great warranty... 10 years or 100,000 miles. For a little extra you could extend the Bumper to Bumper warranty to 10 years/100,000 miles, also. It was, also, inexpensive for a good looking SUV and had some nice features for the money. One thing I have learned, to my dismay, is that the paint warranty, like most companies, is only 3 years/36,000 miles and covers VERY little in the way of true coverage.

I usually wash my car at a car wash every 2 to 3 weeks, or if it looks particularly messy. Nothing fancy for the most part and rarely by hand. At the end of August of this year, I decided to detail my car myself... hand wash and wax, plus all the nice little details. At the time my car was 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days. I noticed that I had paint disintegrating from the hood of my car in 2 spots, the top coat disintegrating in one LARGE spot on the hood of my car plus 2 other smaller spots; and on the roof I had about 6 more spots; also, inside the door, on the bottom decorative molding the paint was flaking off (my neighbor, who bought the exact same car on the exact same day as myself also has this problem). By the way, these do not include the "rock chips" that came SO easily to this car!! I called my dealership in concern and made an appointment for them to look at the car.

The first thing the Service Manager said when he looked at the 5 spots on my hood said that these spots were external factors. That they were caused by bird excrement (for the 2 spots) and acid rain and sap for the others... there was NO explanation for the problem inside my door. When I got upset, and asked the Service Manager why my car was the ONLY car in the neighborhood that was being hit by "nuclear bird crap" and acid rain and "super" sap, he set up an appointment with a Factory Representative for today, September 23, 2004.

So, today I met with the Rep and he says (VERY RUDELY), in my 2 SECOND meeting with him (in which I had to take a FULL day of work off), that the 2 marks on my hood were caused by bird excrement and that the MUCH larger spot on my hood was probably caused by antifreeze or break fluid leaked by a car I was driving behind - notice we stepped away from the acid rain issue. AND these are NOT covered under their warranty because these were external factors. He had no explanation for the chipping paint inside my door, and he never bothered to look at the roof! He then told me to look at the deductible for my insurance because THEY cover "acts of GOD". When I said that my issue was that this happened to a car that was just barely 2 years old, and that I would have expected it to have happened to a car that was maybe 5 years old, he just shrugged his shoulders, then he proceeded to tell me that because of the EPA, etc. that they are not able to use the same things that they used to in paints and top coats, so they are less durable then they were two or more years ago.

I find it interesting that we pay SO much more for cars than we used to, yet they guarantee less. That paint issues are things that we are SUPPOSED to expect. That they feel they can FREELY pass the buck to insurance companies. Then we wonder why our insurance premiums are always increasing.

So, if you care, or even if you don't, pass the word to all your friends and relatives. Warn them that if they buy this brand of car they will probably have to spend about $2,000.00 more on a new paint job in about 2 years.

Thanks!

Don't buy this brand of car!

November 14, 2004.

Hyundai Motors America

Consumer Affairs Department

Fountain Valley, CA 92728-0850.

To whom it may concern;

I am finally writing this letter after much frustration and a quickly declining opinion of your company, warranty and franchised dealership.

I purchased a new 2003 Santa Fe, FWD LX in December of 2002 from a Hyundai Dealer in Cocoa Beach, Florida.

I travel in my business and put on approximately 25,000 miles a year. At about 41,000 of this year I found factory paint beginning to bubble and flake on what I call the rocker pane, the panel below the driver door. The area is not exposed to outside elements as it is covered by the driver door when closed.

I took it to the Service Department of the same dealer and was told that it was over warranty of 36,000 miles or three-years. I was told by a laughing salesperson that I could certainly trade it in on a new model (I found that comment to be intolerable). The mileage I put on the car is far higher than an average driver would put on a car and it was put on in less than two-years. If a car's factory paint won't hold up for 19 months, then there is something seriously wrong with the paint, manufacturing, warranty or product. I have called Hyundai customer service, gone back to the dealer three times, tried to schedule a meeting with the Hyundai Factory Representative, waited for promised calls that never happened and finally received a call from the dealer saying they would do nothing to remedy the problem.

I meet many people in my business that could be potential customers on Hyundai Products. Many have asked me how I like my Santa Fe and service. I am going to start telling them the truth. It would seem to me that a minor re-paint of the area would have been an easy enough thing to do to keep customer service and satisfaction at a satisfactory level. Apparently the dealer does not agree nor care.

I look forward to your response and help in taking care of this matter. As of now, I would Never think of purchasing another Hyundai product and would never recommend this Hyundai Dealer to someone who might be.

Sincerely.

Gary D. Larson

3060 N. Atlantic Ave. #605

Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

321-868-4622

GDLarson@aol.com.

This will happen sporadically with any MFG. It is not an isolated issue dealing with just one car mfg. I had 2 GM's that did the exact same thing. A 93 Chevy Baretta, and a 99 Blazer. I have seen 2K Neons with the same issue, from Chrysler, and many more vehicles with this problem from various makes. Point is - your trashing of a specific automaker because you have had issues is unfounded and reaching at best. You are just reaching for an excuse to trash-talk the makers of the vehicle you bought for someone to lash out at due to a isolated defect. Very petty and irresponsible act. The sales figures do not lie. People like the vehicle and the MFG worldwide. They are now 5th in sales worldwide, and still maintain the best warranty and initial quality. But I suppose your ranting over an isolated incident throws all that down the drain? Let's just shut them down, because you had a bad rap. I'll send you a quarter... buy yourself a clue...

I think it is very petty to trash a car just for the paint. I too have seen different makes and models of cars that have the same problems. What if the car had mechanical problems. You're worried about an issue that happens sometimes. Look at the big picture. Does the car get you from point A to B?

If getting from A to B is your only concern - get a well - cared for older car which is cheap.

If you want the pleasure of trouble-free motoring for at least 3 years, buy a new car.

In this case, that reasoning didn't work, the dealers attitude is intolerable and the customer has every right to be upset.

I would have expected the paint to be rectified free of charge while being given a loaner.

NO I disagree the dealer shouldn't cover tree sap and bird crap fading your paint its not there problem where you park your car if paint means that much to you invest that 2000 dollars toward a garage for your car and don't go crying to the dealer about it because the most important part of the warranty is the mechanical parts of the car; BIRD CRAP is not their problem.

As a 2x owner of Hyundai vehicles and an educated consumer, I have to agree with the person wanting the new paint job from the dealer and a loaner while it's done. Sure, defects happen, errors are made, and humans are only human. What's upsetting is that this Hyundai customer could not reach satisfaction with his purchase through the company that once held his faith. In the grand scheme of things, what would it have cost the dealer to repaint his car compared to the damage his spreading story will have on the cpmany name? Shame on Hyundai.

I am having similar paint damage to my 2003 Hyundai Tiburon. I actually take very good care of the car (hand washes every 3 weeks regardless of weather, waxing 2x per year), and bird droppings have destroyed the paint down to the primer in two spots (one even under the spoiler!). I park outside, but not under trees or places where birds might congregate. I only notice bird droppings on the car once in a while. My theory is that the paint applied by Hyundai is not given enough coats or the same protective layer that other manufacturers do.

After these experiences with Hyundai and their 'warranty', I will not be recommending this brand to anybody.

I agree that a car this new should not be having paint problems. People can say what they want about new paints not being as durable, but that is a lie. Paint processes are so advanced now that the finish on new cars should remain, for the most part, impeccable for at least the first few years no matter what the conditions are. My friend has a 2001 Kia Optima that has been pampered, but has also let them down quite a bit. Now, to top things off, the paint is starting to come off of their car. This is unacceptable especially considering that my BMW is 7 years older than my friend's Kia, lived in metro areas, and still has gorgeous paint. I have noticed a lot of Hyundais and Kias with much worse paint problems, some of them newer. As a consumer, I understand that these are "growing pains" for Hyundai and Kia, and I think this problem will go away in a couple of years. However, I do think that they should pay to have the cars repainted as it is an obvious manufacturing defect.

WoW! I am glad I am NOT losing my mind as the paint or finish or whatever has been slowly fading/chipping/flaking, within the last year, on my 2004 Hyundai XG350L purchased new in February 2005. It is quite disheartening indeed. At first it was around the door frame, inside and out, now I see spots around the front end and hood. I read and re-read my warranty and guarantee and found out quickly this sort of 'wear and tear' will not be covered. I will however keep track on recalls and subsequent complaints filed to see if Hyundai may one day rectify this apparent problem... because not for all the 'bird droppings', 'acid rain', 'tree-sap' in the world should this be happening on relatively new cars that are being washed, waxed and maintained. My car is driven year round in the North East. Thank you in advance for this forum.

I am the original owner of a 2003 Santa Fe, and I am also currently dealing with a paint issue on this vehicle. Whether or not it should be characterize as a defect, or simply low quality material, is certainly up for debate according to the local Hyundai dealer and area rep, but it is obviously an issue for Hyundia and demonstrates low quality workmanship. The clear coat on all 4 door handles is pealing away (bubbling) from the underlying paint layer of the plastic handles. I am a chemist, for the U.S. EPA in fact, and I am very aware of the quality of material currently available in the market and the durability of the UV cured coating reactions that are used to apply the paint to different materials such as plastic and metal in automotive body parts. Trust me, this is not acceptable product durability, and saying that the EPA is over regulating is not an excuse. Trust me, as Hyundai consumers, we simply did not get the material quality that we expected as US consumers - and I think they may have known we would have issues or they would not have warrantied the material for only 3 years. As it relates to Hyundai customer service, their arrogant attitudes have certainly made them lose me as a future customer.

I am the original owner of a 2004 Santa Fe Hyundai and have had to had the back hatch and hood repainted 3 times due to cracking and peeling of paint. The dealer has repainted it each time, but I feel Hyundai needs to know their paint jobs don't stand up.

My 2001 Santa Fe has paint problems too. Crazed paint in several different spots on the roof, back hatch and hood. I searched and could not find any recalls on the faulty paint. My headlights also have a lot of fog in them, and the black trim around my windows is rusting??? I guess if enough Santa Fe or other Hyundai cars are riding around with lousy looking paint, it will eventually look really bad for Hyundai and maybe, hopefully then they will do something.

I just purchased a used 2006 Hyundai Tiburon not even a month ago. The car has just over 20,000 miles on it, and is well within the 3 yr/36k miles warranty. It is actually my second Hyundai, the first of which was a '98 accent that I loved very much. However, it was my first car and I soon stopped worrying about paint and dents. It ran forever though!

Hopefully I will be as lucky with this tiburon running forever.. because the paint certainly will not! I took the car through a 'touch free' car wash to knock some of the major grime off of it. I hadn't had time or the weather to hand wash it since purchase. Well, much to my dismay, chunks of paint left the front bumper along with the dirt!

I took the car to the dealer, and he told me the front bumper had been repainted, at least in his oppinion, and probably wasn't covered. He said factory paint wouldn't do such a thing, and even thought car fax was clear and the mileage was so low, it must have been repainted at some point. He proceeded to point out overspray from "when it was painted" on frame areas under the car.. however it was ONLY on the frame and not on other obvious pieces that would have picked it up too, had it been the truth. I feel it was from when the engine bay was painted at the factory, but he said no. The paint is very thin and peeling off to the black urethan bumper. I would think if it was repainted, it would be a little thicker, and peeling off just the new layer, and theere would at least be soming original underneath, and it would have only been sanded and painted if it was even ever done, as he insists. He told me I will have to bring it in when a rep is availible, but that she will probably say no, that's why he was being so critical. He said it probably wouldn't be worth it for me but we could have her look at it if I wanted. I said of course! So we shall see how it goes. I don't plan to back down.

I bought 4 Hyundai cars at the end of 2001! I have 6 children and needed safe, reliable, affordable cars with warranties! That is exactly what I got. I have 2 Santa Fe, 1 Tiburon and 1 Elantra. They are all running beautifully and have been such a joy to be able to count on. I will admit the paint jobs have just started oxidizing after 6-7 years but... I think Hyundais are FABULOUS!

I noticed the dispute on paint issues with the Santa Fe. I completely understand the point of view from the person complaining of paint chipping, and it appears by the responses that others share your frustration..

I owned a Plymouth Neon, and it had the same problem. I've owned Ford, Chevy, Pontiac and all have had issues within 3 years. That was when I decided to never buy an American made or manufactured car again.

I bought a 2000 Honda Civic. Brand New. I still drive it today. It has 130,000 miles and I absolutely love it. It still drives GREAT and the paint job shines like new. I have only maintained regular oil changes and 1 tune up, and 3 sets of tires.

I was researching to trade in the vehicle on a new Civic and the trade in value was $4000. Wow, and it has a small dint in the side. I think I'm gonna hold off a bit longer on the trade in though. I love having no car payments.

I bought Honda to try something new - since I had always bought an American made car before - supporting our economic growth if you will; but now I will buy nothing else. Maybe you should consider a trade in on the Sante Fe.. Best of Luck..